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What bird was credited with saving Rome from the Gauls in 390BC?

Question #100734. Asked by lynnhelfand.

gonnzo
Answer has 3 votes
Currently Best Answer
gonnzo
17 year member
766 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Greylag goose.

"An interesting fact about Greylag geese is that they were once considered sacred by the Romans after reportedly saving the city of Rome in 390 BC. When the Gauls tried to climb in, the geese warned the Romans with their loud calls about the attempted invasion. After this, Caesar believed that the geese were sacred and it was ordered that the geese were to not be eaten in Pre-Roman Britain."

link http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anser_anser.html

Nov 02 2008, 7:39 PM
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Baloo55th star
Answer has 3 votes
Baloo55th star
21 year member
4545 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.
I would doubt the validity of the last sentence in that quote. Caesar was about 300 years later to start with, and he only spent three months in Britain anyway. How he could order that geese not be eaten in Pre-Roman Britain is quite beyond me.... (I know it says 'it was ordered' not 'he ordered' but the Ancient Brits wouldn't have heard of this edifying tale, and wouldn't have stopped eating greylags, brents or pinkfeet as a result of it. It's another of those unchecked 'facts'. link http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/caesar.html

Nov 03 2008, 7:48 AM
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